Fuel flow control apparatus



Eva-Z PRESSURE IN COMBUSTION CHAMBER Jan. 15, 1957 F. G. BOUCHER FUEL FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1953 FIG. I.

PEAK RANGE INVENTOR FRANK a, BOUOHER Jim BY (Q/3a x m ATTORNEYS United States Patent FUEL FLOW. coNmon rmmrns;

Frank-G; Boucher, Tulsa, Okla, assiguor' to the Uuited States 1 of America 1 as representedtby. the Secretarytof h Na y;

Application August 14,1953, Serial No, 3745451, I

5 Claims.. (Cl. 60:39:28)

The present invention relates to a fuel flow; control, apparatus.

M e i c l he inventi n. elates. m. warenes and means for feeding fuelto a ram-jet engineorfsfi i lar device at a rate which will maintain the pressure produced in the engines combustion chamber Within ajdefinegl p k a e- This application. is a continuationimpart, of the now, abandoned patent application entitled Fuel Metering, y em Gui M s e y r hh Gs 91 91 913. Sena Number 107,053, filed on July 27, 1949;.

In the operation of a ram-jet engineitis desirable to, a a n s ont us ons an P essur n. t fuel bustion chamber of the "engine in order to, insure prop er. operation thereof. '7 I One bi c of h res ht yent oh, heretq en to Pr e. me n r i t in resent n: hermal mb s ion hambe f a. a ist eng ne silhst htiallr h s an It is a rt r. b e t ofthe ventiqn r maihtaiaz vw mum p ins n it ns n a u l qmbhsti a ch h st. y controlling th r te. f el flowto said, chamh rr uaaz. cordance with combustion pressure variations in the ham e -i,

th rzcbiee d, many Qt hea tendantadvantasssat, this nvent qn l hr hht dtfldih asth j c m s nd r tch y ie en o, thefol w n 1st.w es r ti n n co id r d n tmnest qn with th mes: pmpahy s, aw n s e in:

la. 1 sa r c ow he. es ure ai y uelr' it hmh s n hamb r plotted a nst heue fe dp atato... he omhu t ni m er;

F Zis i h t fi a v i r m thtyp sa ehi iueath f hein m h nd i Fi 3 is a c ematic ew hqw nst he rrangemen and e of e u ral ta l Qt. hdinyeafihnt Re err g. first 1Q in, f es raw stahlh o h u r esd a ev r us he sas ressure hi t gmhhs h l l1b ?I.- S QW Assu in awns aat irsPPP yr en. h h a p c s r u n r a e wi h a re ih flow, aw we k u ith r d. h ta i itl sii 9., pw id 't e h i ag fis t t n w re t irst.v o r uel r h of e tiha r Oata h s. .t the pealc value is substantially. constant in pressure 'a n d hh as h p a ns he. pp rat s nd utilized to maintain the operation of; the corn ustr chamber within this peak range constitutethe present invention and are disclosedrnore f ully 'in Figs. 2; an d 3 ef ri sh X to sw mriet hs h r i ih yia a. combustionchamber 12 is shown so mewhat diagrangnra i l y s i ts u l u ly located h ahhlfi; rounding the forward part ofthe engine. A fnehconduit 14 leads from the tank '13'to a point within the enginejl l where it terminates in a rearwardly directed rioizlle 15'," which injects fuel axially downstream into the engine, near theforward "end of the combustion chamberlkthere o of. The-particular apparatus-usedto pump-thefuel fronrthe tank 13 to-the HOZZIGJSLdOES DOt constitute a partof ice the present invention andv has not been disclosed herein Anyconyentional pumping system may be employedfor hisrhr gsh- A control valye 16, with a valve stem 17 is interposed in th e conduit 14 to control the fuel flow to no-zzlelS The valye 1 6 is of a type which, is opened or closed by several turns of the valvestem l7, suchlas a gate valve or a valve, andis to be distinguished from the stop-cgck type valve, wherein a quarter turn of the stem is sufiicienthto, plaeetheyalve in fully open orfully closed position; The control 'valye 16; is operated by an electric motor 18,;

The electric motor 18 has itsvshaft 19falinjed "with the valve stem 17 of valve 16, and is coupled thereto in, such waythat relative axialshift of the shaft 19 and sterin 11: may ke Pla e asthe WQ I -i. h ermits orehina. and closing of valve 16 without axial shift o f shai't he eld W nd n f 1 r shshtly 991 nected across asourceof direct current power 22 and the rmature, Win in 5 of t m r oh e te rha ifi a stepping relay 24 to the same sou jce of power.

The stepping relay 24 serves to control the directiqn r of current flow through the armature winding z lfqg and thus the direction of rotation of the shaft of the mot and s n, r s controllsdiby ya Pa -he fir v sthht withj tern, are described more fully hereinaf ter in thediscussipn Referring now to Fig. 3, the steppingrelay ZA diaggam; matically shown therein is of a conyentionah typ e in ludf ing a double-pole, double-throw,reversing switch zjh v; mg two pairs of stationary contacts 28, 3 l.,"and 29 3 2 ar rd two spaced movable contacts 33 and 34 which aI'eop eIable by a solenoid 35 having a coil 36 and a core 37. The movable contacts 33 and 34 are rigidly interconnectedby a stru t 33 and; as shown, are urged into engagement with one pair of the stationary contacts 29, 32bys'pring means 395' A cam wheel 41' in cooperation withLa cam surfaceAZconnected to one of the movable contacts is adapted to rotate to move said contacts.

A sliding bar 43 connected to the core 37 oij'the solenoid 35' is'spring biased in a direction to withdraw s aid core; from the solenoid coil 36, The bar 43- pivotally mounts a pay/1 44 which cooperates with a ratchettwheel" mechanically connectedat 46-to the cam wheel 41;

It will be noted that upon energization of the solenoid 3 coil 35 the pawl ;44-engages the ratchet wheel 45 to rotate saidjwheel through a predetermined arc. The eam wheel 4-l thereupon rotates a corresponding amount. The earn wheel 41 is constructed 'with one half 'as many teeth as the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel'45 so that the cam I surface '42; alternately engages the addendum and the dedendurrr ofthe teeth of; the cam wheel. In this manner when the cam surface 42 engages the addendum of-the teeth the movable contacts 33ancl 34 are in engagement with one pair of stationary contacts 28, 31 respectively With the cam surface 42 in engagement with the dedendum of the teeth, the movable contacts 33 and 34; engage the other pair of stationagy contacts 29; 3 2; respectively.

Upon de-energization of the solenoid coil 3 6, the bar 43=moves to Withdraw the solenoidcore 37- -from said-coil" and resetsrthepawl .44 with-relation to theratchetwhel 45- 3. to prepare for subsequent turning of said wheel when said coil is reenergized.

One contact from each pair of stationary contacts, for example contacts 28 and 32, is connected to one side of the direct current source 22. The remaining contact of each pair of stationary contacts, for example contacts 29 and 31, is connected to the opposite polarity side of the source 22. The movable contacts 33 and 34 are connected to the armature winding 23 of the motor 18. Thus, it will be seen that upon successive actuations of the movable contacts, the direction of current in the armature winding 23 is alternated, causing the motor 18 to successively reverse its direction of rotation.

The pressure responsive switch 25 comprises a Bourdon tube 47 or an equivalent pressure responsive device, having one end fixed to a rigid support 48 and in communication with the combustion chamber 12 of the ram-jet engine through the conduit 26. The free end of the Bourdon tube 47 is mechanically connected by a pin-jointed linkage 49 including a lever 50 rigidly secured to a drive member 51. Drive member 51 is in the shape of a cylindrical segment pivoted about a stud 60 on the rigid support 48. The drive member 51 frictionally engages a spindle 52 rotatably mounted on the rigid support 48. A switching arm 53 is connected for pivotal motion to the spindle 52.

A contact 54 is carried by the switching arm 53 and is adapted to engage a stationary contact 55 in a series electrical circuit including the relay solenoid coil 36, a source of direct current 56 and said arm. The outer end of the switching arm 53 carries an armature 57 which is disposed between the poles of a permanent magnet 58 suitably mounted on the rigid support 48. The switching arm 53 will thereby be held to either one of the poles of the magnet 58 to prevent chattering of the contacts 54 and 55 until a sufficient torque is applied by the drive member 51 to the spindle 52 to cause said arm to shift to the opposite pole.

Thus, it will be seen that a high pressure in the ramjet combustion chamber 12 causes the Bourdon tube 47 to straighten, thereby turning the spindle 52 in a clockwise direction to shift the arm 53 in a direction separating the contacts 54 and 55. On the other hand, a low pressure in the chamber 12 brings about a contraction of the Bourdon tube 47 to turn the spindle 52 in a counterclockwise direction and shift the arm 53 in a direction closing the contacts 54 and 55.

Having described the structural features of the inven' tion, the operation thereof is discussed hereinafter.

Initially, it is assumed that the pressure in the combus tion chamber 12 is below the peak range on the fuel lean side of the curve shown in Fig. 1. In this instance the motor 18 is turning the valve stem 17 so as to open the valve 16 to admit more fuel into the chamber 12 and thus increase the chamber pressure.

As the chamber pressure increases the Bourdon tube 47 straightens. A predetermined chamber pressure is reached whereupon the straightening of the Bourdon tube 47 is sufiicient to overcome the magnetic bias applied by magnet 58 upon the switching arm 53. When this occurs the arm 53 shifts to break the engagement of the contacts 54 and 55 and de-energize the solenoid 36. The sliding bar 43 of the relay 24 is released to reset the pawl 44 and ratchet wheel 45 for subsequent actuation.

For purposes of explanation it will be assumed that when the movable contacts 33 and 34 of the relay switch 27 respectively engage the stationary contacts 29, 32, the motor 18 turns so as to open the valve 16. However, the engagement of these particular contacts to turn the motor 18 so as to close the valve 16 may be accomplished simply by reversing the electrical connections to the armature winding 23 of said motor.

As more fuel is added to the chamber 12 the pressure builds up to a peak as shown in Fig. 1 and then begins to drop ofi because of the quenching effect of an overabundance of fuel. After the chamber pressure drops a predetermined amount governed by the setting of the pressure responsive switch 25, the Bourdon tube 47 contracts a sufiicient amount to close the contacts 54 and 55. The relay solenoid 36 is energized to turn the ratchet wheel 45 and cam wheel 41 to shift the movable contacts 33 and 34 into engagement with the stationary contacts 28, 31 to reverse the motor 18. The valve stem 17 is then turned to close the valve 16 and reduce the amount of fuel being admitted to the chamber 12. Thereafter, the chamber pressure next rises to a peak value and then decreases on the fuel lean side of the curve shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the initial increase in pressure causes the Bourdon tube 47 to act to separate the contacts 54 and 55 and deenergize the solenoid 36. The pawl 44 and ratchet wheel 45 are thereby reset, in the manner described above, for the subsequent turning of the cam wheel 41 to shift the movable contacts 33 and 34 for again reversing the motor 18. This reversal of the motor 18 occurs after the chamber pressure has dropped a predetermined amount and causes more fuel to be admitted to the combustion chamber 12. The pressure then begins to rise and the cycle is repeated.

It will be seen that the system continually oscillates between two predetermined low pressure points respectively on the fuel rich and fuel lean portions of a pressure versus fuel rate curve. The pressure is thereby maintained substantially constant within a desired peak pressure range.

Obviously many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure control apparatus for a combustion chamber having a fuel flow control valve, comprising an electric motor to maintain said valve in continuous motion, a stepping relay electrically connected to said motor for altering the direction of motion of said motor upon actuation of said relay, and a pressure responsive switch operable by pressures within the combustion chamber for actuating said relay.

2. A pressure control apparatus for a combustion chamber having a fuel flow control valve, comprising an electric motor for continuously operating said valve, a stepping relay including a solenoid adapted to be energized to actuate said relay, said relay being electrically connected to said motor to change the direction of motion of said motor upon successive actuations of said relay, a source of electrical energy, and a pressure responsive switch operable by pressures within the combustion chamber, said switch being connected in electrical series relation with said solenoid and said source of energy to successively energize and de-energize saidsolenoid upon pressure fluctuations in the combustion chamber.

3. A pressure control apparatus for a combustion chamber having a fuel flow control valve, comprising an electric motor coupled to said valve for continuously operating said valve, a stepping relay electrically connected to said motor to change the direction of motion of said motor upon actuation of said relay, and a pressure responsive switch including a pressure responsive element operable by pressures within the combustion chamber, said switch being electrically connected to said relay and operable by said element to actuate said relay.

4. A pressure control apparatus for a combustion chamber having a fuel flow control valve, comprising an electric motor coupled to said valve for continuously operating said valve, a stepping relay electrically connected to said motor to change the direction of motion of said motor upon actuation of said relay, a pressure responsive switch including a pressure responsive element operable by pressure within the combustion chamber, said switch being electrically connected t osaid relay and operable by said element to actuate said relay, and means for preventing the chattering of said electric switch.

5. In a combustion pressure control apparatus for a combustion chamber having a fuel flow control valve, the combustion pressure in said chamber normally reaching a peak and then dropping upon increasing the fuel supply to said chamber, an electric switch having a pressure responsive element connected to said combustion chamber and actuable upon a predetermined reduction in combustion pressure below said peak, a first source of electric energy, an electromagnet connected with said first source of energy and said pressure responsive electric switch, a second source of electric energy, a reversing switch having two pairs of stationary contacts connected with inverted polarities to said second source of energy and a pair of movable contacts, said movable contacts being operable by successive energizations of said electromagnet for movement alternately 'into and out of engagement with the first of said pairs of stationary contacts and simultaneously out of and into engagement with the second of said pairs of stationary contacts, and an electric motor mechanically coupled to said control valve to maintain said control valve in continuous motion, said motor having its armature winding connected to said movable contacts and its field winding connected to said second source of energy so that said alternate movements of said movable contacts by said successive energizations will change the direction of current in the armature winding to change the direction of rotation of the motor for each successive occurrence of said predetermined reduction in combustion pressure below said peak.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,931,771 Pinkerton Oct. 24, 1933 2,302,250 Penn Nov. 17, 1942 2,336,052 Anderson et al. Dec. 7, 1943 2,687,009 Lee Aug. 24, 1954 2,687,612 Anderson et a1. Aug. 31, 1954 2,688,845 Ostroflf Sept. 14, 1954 2,697,327 Hazen et a1. Dec. 21, 1954 2,729,061 Grafinger et a1. Jan. 3, 1956 

